The Process Supporting you through the UCAS process
UCAS Timeline June - July Aug - Sept Oct - March April May June - July August Start personal statements, register, research courses & visit unis AS results, finalise uni choices, final draft of personal statement Submit UCAS application, interviews, auditions, tests, replies Attend applicant days, Reply to offers, apply for student finance A2 exams A Level Results day confirm your place! At the heart of connecting people to higher education 13/11/2015 2
Key dates and deadlines Mid-June Mid-September Applicants can register and start to complete their application. Schools can start to submit completed applications to UCAS. 15 October Medicine, dentistry, veterinary sci/med and Oxford or Cambridge. 15 January Application deadline for most courses. 24 March Many art & design courses (check each course for deadline). 30 June Applications after this date held for Clearing. At the heart of connecting people to higher education 13/11/2015 3
Key features of the UCAS scheme You can make up to five choices in one application. The 2015 applicant fee is: 12 for one choice 23 for up to five choices. Applications received by the key deadlines are given equal consideration. In 2012... UCAS received 653,637 applications 464,910 were accepted Invisibility universities cannot see where else students have applied. At the heart of connecting people to higher education 13/11/2015 4
Making the application Apply [2016 entry] is the UCAS online application system Every applicant has six sections to complete: Personal details Student finance (UK and EU only) Choices Education Employment Personal statement. Once you submit your application, the reference is added (by Miss Mensah) and it is sent to UCAS who passes it on to the university At the heart of connecting people to higher education 13/11/2015 5
Tracking applications Track will allow you to: follow the progress of your application 24/7 see your choices and personal information display your offers Track is an online system that allows you to follow the progress of your application on UCAS reply to offers online. At the heart of connecting people to higher education 13/11/2015 6
Decision-making by institutions Universities and colleges will review: Personal statement Reference Qualifications Admissions test results Interviews Portfolios Auditions. An admissions tutor may make one of three decisions: Unconditional offer Conditional offer Unsuccessful. Institutions may also offer a place on an alternative course At the heart of connecting people to higher education 13/11/2015 7
Replying to offers When you receive decisions from all of your choices you will need to make your replies by a set date. You can now hold a maximum of two offers: Firm - your first choice. If you meet the conditions of the offer you will be placed here. Insurance acts as a back-up choice and only comes into play if you are not placed with your firm choice. If they do not receive any offers they can make an additional choice through the Extra scheme If you fail to reply to your offers by the deadline date, all offers will be automatically declined. At the heart of connecting people to higher education 13/11/2015 8
Extra If you do not get an offer from any of your choices you can use Extra. Students eligible for Extra: Used all five choices All choices unsuccessful, cancelled or offers declined No option for firm or insurance Universities have 21 days to respond Existing apply information used. Extra is open between February - July At the heart of connecting people to higher education 13/11/2015 9
Confirmation Exam results are published many are passed electronically to universities by UCAS. Admissions staff check if the applicant has met the conditions of the offer. There are four possibilities: 1. If a student meets the conditions of their firm choice. It s time to celebrate! 2. If a student doesn t meet the conditions of their firm choice, but meets the conditions of their insurance choice (which should be lower), they will be placed at their insurance choice. It s also time to celebrate! 3. If a student has not met the conditions of their firm or insurance choice (or no insurance), they will be entered into a process known as Clearing. 4. If a student meets and exceeds the conditions of their offer, they are eligible for Adjustment. This provides an opportunity for them to reconsider where and what to study whilst still holding their firm offer. At the heart of connecting people to higher education 13/11/201510 13/11/2015 10
The Clearing process Applicant contacts university or college to discuss vacancies Applicant enters choice details on Track Clearing If unsuccessful applicant can start again University or college will make a decision If successfully placed celebrate! At the heart of connecting people to higher education 13/11/2015 11
Other things to consider Work experience professional bodies, charities or at events Finance course fees, grants, travel and living costs Travel to and from home Living away from home... Accommodation uni halls or private residences? At the heart of connecting people to higher education 13/11/2015 12
Jargon Buster Bachelor s Degree Combined Honours Foundation Course Foundation Degree Foundation Year HNC/HND Is the first degree, comes in many brands (BA, BSc, BMus, BEng) Flexible degree covering more than one subject Art Foundation course 1 year to broaden and deepen skills A flexible work related qualification which combines work & study An extra years study before starting your degree course Higher National Certificate & Higher National Diploma At the heart of connecting people to higher education 13/11/2015 13
Jargon Buster Honours Joint Honours Sandwich Course Single Honours Undergraduate Postgraduate Undergraduate degrees used to be divided into pass or honours Flexible degree covering more than one subject Includes a year working in a related field A degree awarded in a Single subject Before you pass your first degree you are an undergraduate After you graduate, you can study further as a postgraduate At the heart of connecting people to higher education 13/11/2015 14
Find out more At the heart of connecting people to higher education 13/11/201515 13/11/2015 15
UCAS HE CONVENTION: Registration At the heart of connecting people to higher education 13/11/2015 16
UCAS HE Convention: What to Expect https://www.ucasevents.com/ucas/frontend/reg/tot herpage.csp?pageid=648518&eventid=1417&eventi D=1417 At the heart of connecting people to higher education 13/11/2015 17